Child Autism Assessment in Calgary
Child autism assessments in Calgary to understand your child’s unique needs and strengths
Comprehensive Autism Assessment with Cognitive Testing for Verbal Youth and Child
Innerlogue Therapy & Psychology provides comprehensive Autism assessment for children and youth in Calgary, conducted by licensed psychologists in Alberta. Our assessment is designed for verbal youth who use flexible phrase speech or fluent spoken language and are able to participate meaningfully in standardized cognitive testing.
The assessment evaluates whether a young person’s developmental, behavioural, and social-communication profile is consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Cognitive and neuropsychological testing are also included to provide a more complete understanding of how the child thinks, learns, processes information, manages attention, and approaches different types of tasks.
Our goal is not only to determine whether an Autism diagnosis is appropriate, but also to help families better understand their child’s strengths, challenges, learning profile, and support needs.
The assessment provides:
- A clear diagnostic conclusion, when applicable
- A detailed understanding of the child’s strengths and support needs
- Information about cognitive and developmental functioning
- Identification of possible gifted or twice-exceptional (2e) profiles
- Practical recommendations for home and school
- Recommendations for accommodations and educational supports
- Guidance regarding therapy, medical consultation, or other services when appropriate
Book a Child Autism Assessment
What is Included in an Autism Assessment?
A comprehensive Autism assessment involves much more than one test or appointment. Information is gathered from several sources and integrated by the psychologist to develop a complete understanding of the child.
Depending on the complexity of the case, the entire assessment process may involve approximately 10 to 16 hours of professional assessment time, including interviews, direct testing, scoring, interpretation, record review, report writing, and feedback.
The assessment typically includes:
Parent or Guardian Intake Interview
The assessment begins with an in-depth parent or guardian interview. We discuss the concerns that led to the assessment and gather information about the child’s strengths, developmental history, relationships, behaviour, attention, emotional regulation, sensory experiences, routines, flexibility, school functioning, and current support needs.
Relevant medical, educational, developmental, and family information will also be reviewed.
Cognitive Assessment
The child completes an individually administered cognitive assessment to better understand their thinking and learning profile.
Depending on the child’s age, language abilities, developmental presentation, and assessment needs, testing may examine:
- Verbal comprehension and reasoning
- Visual-spatial abilities
- Problem-solving and fluid reasoning
- Working memory
- Processing speed
Cognitive testing is not required to diagnose Autism, but it can provide valuable information for understanding the child’s overall profile and planning appropriate supports.
It may also help identify areas of cognitive strength, uneven development, giftedness, or a twice-exceptional (2e) profile.
Executive Function and Neuropsychological Testing
Structured, age-appropriate tasks may be used to examine attention, executive functioning, and cognitive efficiency.
Areas assessed may include:
- Sustained attention
- Response inhibition and impulse control
- Working memory
- Cognitive flexibility
- Planning and organization
- Processing efficiency
- Ability to follow instructions and manage competing demands
These results can help us understand whether attention and executive-functioning differences may be contributing to difficulties at home or school. They may also help the psychologist consider whether other factors, such as ADHD or learning differences, should be explored alongside Autism.
Autism Diagnotic Interview – Revised (ADI-R)
The ADI-R is a structured caregiver interview focused on developmental history and behaviours associated with Autism.
The interview explores areas such as:
- Early childhood development
- Communication and language development
- Social interaction and relationships
- Play and imagination
- Restricted or repetitive behaviours
- Focused interests
- Sensory experiences
- Routines and predictability
- Flexibility and responses to change
- Behaviour patterns across development
- Current functioning and support needs
Because Autism is a developmental condition, understanding how a young person’s characteristics appeared and changed throughout childhood is an important part of a comprehensive Autism assessment.
When possible, participation from both parents or primary caregivers is strongly recommended.
Autism Diagnotic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)
The ADOS-2 is a structured, interactive assessment completed directly with the child.
The psychologist selects the appropriate ADOS-2 module based on the child’s age, expressive language level, and developmental presentation.
For verbal child, this will typically Module 2, Module 3, or Module 4.
During the assessment, the psychologist observes areas such as:
- Social communication
- Verbal and nonverbal communication
- Reciprocal conversation
- Social interaction and reciprocity
- Understanding of emotions and relationships
- Imagination and creativity
- Flexibility
- Interests and behaviour patterns
- Responses during real-time social interactions
The ADOS-2 does not determine an Autism diagnosis by itself. Results are interpreted together with developmental history, parent interviews, questionnaires, cognitive testing, records, clinical observations, and other relevant information.
Behavioural, Adaptive and Autism Questionnaires
Parents or guardians and teachers may be asked to complete standardized questionnaires to provide information about how the child functions across different settings.
Depending on the referral questions, questionnaires may examine:
- Social communication and interaction
- Restricted or repetitive behaviours
- Sensory experiences
- Attention and activity level
- Emotional and behavioural functioning
- Executive functioning
- Flexibility and emotional regulation
- Adaptive and daily living skills
When appropriate, the child may also complete self-report questionnaires.
Information from parents, teachers, and the child helps us understand how the young person functions in everyday environments rather than relying only on what is observed during assessment appointments.
Review of School and Other Relevant Records
A comprehensive Autism assessment may also include a review of relevant records, such as:
- Previous psychological or developmental assessments
- Report cards
- Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) or Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
- School documentation
- Speech-language reports
- Occupational therapy reports
- Medical or developmental reports
- Relevant counselling or treatment records
With appropriate consent, the psychologist may also obtain information from teachers, healthcare providers, or other professionals who know the child well.
Comprehensive Autism Assessment Report
After testing and interviews are completed, the psychologist scores, inteprets, and integrates the information collected throughout the assessment.
Families receive a comprehensive written psychological report that may include:
- Referral concerns and relevant background information
- Developmental history
- Behavioural observations
- Cognitive assessment results
- ADI-R findings
- ADOS-2 findings
- Questionnaire results
- Relevant school and collateral information
- The child’s strengths and areas of support
- Diagnostic conclusions, when applicable
- Consideration of relevant co-occurring or differential conditions
- Individualized recommendations for home and school
- Suggested accommodations and educational supports
- Recommendations for therapy or other services when appropriate
An autism diagnosis is not based on one test alone. The psychologist considers and integrates all available information using clinical judgment before reaching a diagnostic conclusion.
Parent or Guardian Feedback Meeting
After the assessment has been completed, parents or guardians attend a feedback appointment with the psychologist.
During this meeting, we will:
- Explain the assessment findings in clear, understandable language
- Review the child’s cognitive and developmental profile
- Discuss strengths and support needs
- Explain diagnostic conclusions
- Review recommendations and possible next steps
- Answer questions from parents or guardians
The comprehensive written report will be provided at or following the feedback meeting.
How Long Does an Autism Assessment Take?
Our comprehensive youth and child Autism assessment generally involves approximately 10 to 16 hours of professional assesssment time, depending on the complexity of the case and the amount of information that needs to be reviewed.
The assessment is completed across multiple appointments. Parents and child do not need to attend every component together.
Appointment length and the number of sessions may also be adjusted according to the child’s age, needs, attention, fatigue, and developmental presentation.
How Much Does an Autism Assessment Cost In Calgary?
An Autism assessment involves several components, including clinical assessment, parent interviews, testing, review of relevant information, and report preparation. The full assessment typically takes approximately 10 to 16 hours, depending on the complexity of the case.
- Autism assessment without cognitive or academic testing $2350 to $2820
There are no concerns with cognitive function or academic performance or an assessment was recently completed.
- Autism assessment with cognitive testing depending on complexity of case $2820 to $3290
No concerns with academic performance but you would like a beetter understanding of your child's cognitive profile.
- Autism assessment with cognitive testing and academic testing depending on complexity of the case $3290 to $3760
You would like a better understanding of the child's cognitive profile and there are academic concerns
Detailed receipts will be provided for insurance purposes. The fee refleccts the different components involved in a comprehensive psychological assessment, including interviews, direct psychological testing, questionnaires, scoring and interpretation, review of relevant records, clinical integration, report writing, and the parent feedback meeting.
Is an Autism Assessment Covered by Insurance?
Psychological assessments may be partially or fully covered by extended health insurance plans. Coverage depends on your individual insurance provider and benefits.
Before beginning an Autism assessment, we recommend confirming:
- Whether psychological assessment services are covered
- Your annual psychology coverage
- Whether a physician’s referral is required
- Whether psychological’s testing, scoring, report writing, and feedback are eligible
- Whether direct billing is available
Detailed receipts are provided for insurance purposes.
Direct billing may be available for some insurance providers, but coverage cannot be guaranteed. Families are responsible for any portion of the assessment that is not covered by their insurance plan.
A credit card is required in JaneApp to complete the booking and intake process, including when direct billing is being used. The card will not be charged foir amounts successfully covered by insurance and serves as a backup payment method for any outstanding balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ADOS-2 diagnose Autism?
No. The ADOS-2 is an important part of many Autism assessments, but it does not determine a diagnosis on its own. The psychologist integrates ADOS-2 findings with developmental history, caregiver interviews, questionnaires, cognitive testing, behavioral observations, records, and other relevant information.
Does my child need cognitive testing for an Autism diagnosis?
Cognitive testing is not required to diagnose Autism. However, it can provide valuable information about how your child thinks, learns, remembers information, solves problems, and processes information.
It can also help identify cognitive strengths, areas requiring support, giftedness, uneven development, and possible twice-exceptional profiles.
Do parents participate in the Autism assessment?
Yes, parent or caregiver participation is an important part of the assessment because Autism is developmental. Parents provide information about early childhood development and the child’s functioning across different stages of life.
When possible, participation from both parents or primary caregivers is encouraged.
Will you contact my child's school?
Parents and teachers may be asked to complete questionnaires. With appropriate consent, the psychologist may also gather information from teachers or other professionals who know the child well.
Will we receive a written report?
Yes. Families receive a comprehensive psychological report outlining the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions when applicable, strengths, support needs, and individualized recommendations.
Can Autism and ADHD occur together?
Yes. During the assessment, the psychologist considers whether attention, executive-functioning, learning, emotional, developmental, or other factors may also be contributing to the child’s presentation. Additional assessment may be recommended when appropriate.
Book a Child Autism Assessment in Calgary
If you are wondering whether your child or teenager may be Autistic, a comprehensive psychological assessment can provide greater clarity about their developmental profile, strengths, challenges, and support needs.
Innerlogue Therapy & Psychology provides Autism assessments in Calgary for verbal children and youth, with cognitive testing, developmental assessment, ADI-R, ADOS-2, questionnaires, and individualized recommendations.
Contact our team to learn more about the assessment processs, current availability, insurance and direct billing, or whether this assessment is appropriate for your child.